Check-holder and bag-fastener



(No Model.)

0. LEAVITT.

CHECK HOLDER AND BAG PASTENEB...

Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

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WITNESSES N. PETERS. Pmwuma m her, Washington. Dv c.

thumb nut.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

CHARLES LEAVITT, on CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CHECK-HOLDER AND BAG-FASTENER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,137, dated April 22, 188%.

Application filed December 17, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES LEAVITT, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Oombined Check- Holder and Bag-Fastener; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in a combined check-holder and bag-fastener, and designed more especially for mail-bags.

The object of my inventionis to provide a simple, compact, durable, cheap, and convenient device for the purpose aforesaid.

\Vith these objects in view, my invention consists in certain features of construction and in combination of parts, hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the front side of my device with the cord and check in position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the front side of the check. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the frame and attachments. Fig. 4: is a section of the Fig. 5 is a plan View of the front side of the frame with the check removed. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the back side of the frame and attachments with the check removed. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the top of the thumb-nut.

A represents alight metal frame, constituting a check-holder, and, as shown, is rectangular in form, but may be made of any size or shape to fit the checks that are to be used. The sides of the frame are connected midway by the bottom plate, B, against which the back side of the check 0 rests. The frame is provided at each end with a thin web, a, that engages the face side of the check and holds it from displacement in front. The check may be inserted endwise from the back side, and when the forward end has passed the plate B and is near the web a, by pressing gently on the front side with the finger, the check will be bent back so as to pass in the rear of the web. A pressure applied in a like manner will press one end of the check back of the frame, so that the check can easily be withdrawn from the holder. WVhen in position the check is supported, as aforesaid, in the rear by the plate B, and in front by the webs a, and the check is of sufiicient stiffness to insure its maintaining its position. The plate B has a raised portion extending back of the frame, and from the center of which projects the screw end I). On either side of the screw b are grooves c and (1, adapted to receive a cord, D, such as mail-bags are fastened with. A thumb-nut, E, is provided, that engages the screw b, and has a flange, e, on the bottom that extends across the grooves c and d, and when screwed down presses the cord into the said grooves and holds the cord firmly in place. When the nut E is unscrewed a short distance, thecord is loosenechso that it can easily be drawn endwise in either direction. In opening a mail-bag, a turn of the nut will loosen the cord, and in closing the bags, after the cord has been drawn taut a reverse turn of the nut will fasten the cord.

The checks are usually quite small, so that the device is compact and light, and its construction is such that it is simple, durable, convenient, and well adapted to be used on mail-bags and for other similar purposes.

WVhat I claim is- 1. A combined check-holder and bag-fastener, consisting, essentially, of aframe provided at its ends with webs or projections to support the check in front, across-plate for holding the check in contact with the webs or proj ections, a screw projecting from the rear face of the cross-plate, and a clamping-nut for holding the ends of the cord, all of the above parts combined as described.

2. In a combined check-holder and bag-fastener, the combination, with the frame provided with the webs a, cross-bar B, screw b, and grooves c d, of a thumb-nut adapted to hold the cord within the grooves and prevent it from slipping, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of December, 1888.

CHARLES LEAVITT.

\Vitnesses:

ALBERT E. LYNCH, G. H. DORER. 

